A City Rallies for Its Miners: The Franklin Disaster Relief Fund

The charitable people of the city and vicinity responded liberally yesterday to the Post-Intelligencer's appeal for subscriptions to the relief fund for the benefit of the families of the miners who lost their lives in the Franklin disaster last Friday. The total now contributed is $1,072.30. Of this amount, the employees of the Oregon Improvement Company in this city yesterday contributed $50, the coal miners at Black Diamond $259, Seattle Typographical Union No. 323 $25, the employees of the Yesler Avenue cable road $21.70, and Rev. O. E. Newberry, for the Congregational Sunday school at Coupeville, $10.30. Other organizations, as well as individuals, have signified their intention of contributing, and the prospects are that within the next few days the amount will be materially increased.

The $259 from the Black Diamond miners has not yet been received at this office, but a dispatch from the superintendent of the mine shows that the money has been subscribed.

With a few exceptions the total of the $50 subscribed by the employees of the Oregon Improvement Company has been paid up and was placed in the business office of the Post-Intelligencer last evening by B. K. Bush, general superintendent of the company. The employees of the Yesler Avenue cable line certainly acted nobly and contributed liberally. The following note of sympathy, accompanying the subscription of $21.70, was received:

'To the Post-Intelligencer: Fully realizing the truth as expressed in your issue of this date—to-wit, "those who contributed 50 cents showed the right spirit and did not refrain from contributing because they could not afford to give a larger sum," the undersigned desire to add to the Post-Intelligencer fund our 50 cents. In a cause like this no one with a great big heart can come to the front successfully without some self-sacrifice on his own part. We do not lead in this matter, but ask all who can to imitate to the extent of their abilities. Respectfully yours, Employees of the Seattle City Railway Company.'

Among the organizations arranging to aid the sufferers is the Olympic Athletic Club. It is proposed to hold a benefit entertainment for the fund, and this club has volunteered the services of some of its best athletes towards making a good and varied programme. Another means of securing subscriptions will be put in use at Leschi Park, where a contribution box will be placed in the pavilion.

The Post-Intelligencer exercised a good deal of care in selecting a committee at Franklin to take charge of, disburse intelligently and account for all moneys contributed. The committee now consists of Richard H. Irwin, Prof. Charles Weatherbee and O. S. Bailey. Mr. Irwin is one of the most popular young men in Franklin and has made himself familiar with the relative wants of all who are bereaved. Prof. Weatherbee is principal of the local school, and Mr. Bailey is one of the most prominent colored men of the place. Yesterday afternoon a part of the fund was sent to the committee, and the rest will be sent from day to day as the money comes in.

The last victim of the Franklin disaster was buried yesterday when Frank E. Larson was laid away in the Odd Fellows' cemetery. Larson's body had been kept in order that his brother, who works in the Coeur d'Alene mines, might attend the funeral. Mr. Larson arrived here Tuesday evening and the funeral was held yesterday at 10 o'clock from Bonney & Stewart's chapel. The services at the grave were conducted by Rev. John F. Damon.